Wednesday, January 18, 2012

I know I always wish that everyone would use soap; but, here's hoping we never see SOPA take effect! Of course, here is how everything will look for Muley the Mule once they do take effect, because you can't show your @$$ on the internet...

Monday, January 16, 2012

We're a little late (actually VERY late) with our appreciation of Dr. King, Jr., post.

Peace. Love. Cooperation. Understanding. Acceptance. Compassion. When I think of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s messages these words come to mind. Those words describe the measure of what we, as men and women, should endeavor to represent.

You know, I was lucky growing up! I had a mom who loved me enough to show me how to love other people. My grandparents taught me about loving others. The people I had around me were all different than I was, so I could learn to see past skin color and see and know the person in that skin--those were the people I made my friends. It becomes even most awesome to realize that, as an adult, I have such an array of friends--truly great people that I get to see on an every day basis--who are all so different from me and I embrace those differences because that is what makes those good friends such wonderful human beings. I forego the thoughts of skin color, of nationality, of heritage, of background, of creed...and I go straight to the soul of who that person is and that is the part of them I love most of all.

Now, excuse me a moment while I get preachy, but I think we hear too often of folks who claim a certain religion, and yet they don't define that religion at all! If you can't live with someone in this life because they are different than you, then how do you expect to live with them in the next life? Jesus Christ surrounded himself, and made disiciples of, some of the lowest folks he could find. If those kinds of folks are good enough for Jesus, shouldn't you be a little more willing to accept someone for their differences instead of demeaning or judging them? I mention this because it's not too far stretched from Jesus' teachings that Martin Luther King, Jr., taught. And when I think of Jesus' teachings, I think of a few words: Peace. Love. Cooperation. Understanding. Acceptance. Compassion.

I'm not saying MLK is Jesus; but, I'm saying that he was a powerful man, and still is, and his teachings were right on spot with what Jesus tried to tell people. As far as I'm concerned, it couldn't hurt to be a little more like either of them!

So, now on to the closing: As a kid growing up, I wanted to make a difference in how people accepted each other, so when you read a Muley comic strip or watch a puppet show, you'll notice that he's best friends with a dog and a duck, his cousins are a horse and a donkey, and his other friends are a cow, another duck and another dog. And then there's Missy--we're still not sure what's going on there with her and Muley; but, the point is, that no matter how different your species, or skin color, may be you are still special and wonderful in your own way. And, if these critters can get along as friends no matter how different they are in species or personality, can't we?

To have a pot of gold, one color; or to have a bunch of friends? I choose the latter.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Everyone knows how much I love painting cultural iconographic characters, and you know how much I love the Muppets. So, the latest casualty at the tip of my brush is "Meep, Beaker." Everyone's favorite red head (usually because it's on fire) has been painted in acrylic on 5x7" canvas board. If you'd like to see the progression photos, visit the video by clicking on the image below, and enjoy.

As always, all paintings are available for sale or commission; please see the information in the "About" section for contact information.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

I'm the proud president of the Mid-South Cartoonists Association, as you know, and we are celebrating our 25th anniversary in May; so, to start the year off right we're having an art show at the DeSoto Arts Council in Hernando, MS, a quick 20 minute ride south of Memphis. Here are the show details:

"The Process" is a theme we like to use to show how much work actually goes into the art of cartooning: idea, note, doodle/sketch, thumbnail, pencils, inks, colors, letters...it's very detail oriented work that can take hours to complete. This show shares that work with you.

I will be on hand at the reception working on Muley Comix comic strips live and in person for part of the reception as a demonstration, explaining the tools, techniques, thought processes. Who knows, Muley may even show up!

About Muley the Mule (dot) Com

P.O. Box 770397, Memphis, TN 38177.
Muley the Mule and Friends Comix and Stories, including the Critter Productions, are always ready to entertain and create networks and friendships. Whether educational or informative, the reader can enjoy the time spent with the MuleyVerse. E-mail us for hire or to ask questions: muleytmule@hotmail.com.
You can also find our editing work via www.toshigawa.com. Open to some commissions (cartoons and puppets), just ask. Titles and Characters TM and C KLWP.